FR2740022A1 - ELECTRIC POLISHER - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric polisher (10) includes a central housing (22) having an upper part, a lower part, a front part and a rear part with a rotating pad adjacent to the lower part of the housing. A horizontal front handle (26) and a vertical rear handle (28) are provided. A flange (40) is formed at the top of the central housing and a male receptacle with plugs is mounted in the flange to electrically connect to a female receptacle head of a power cord. The flange is recessed and the receptacle plugs extend into the flange. A cord lock (44) includes a cord receiving groove in the top of the housing, adjacent to the flange, and a cantilever tongue for retaining a portion of a cord in the groove.

Description

ELECTRIC POLISHER

  The present invention relates to electric chickens and, more particularly, electric chickens of ergonomic configuration which allow an operator to exert a bi-planar control on the polisher during its actuation while preventing an accidental disconnection of an electrical connection cord. which would interrupt the power supply

electric polisher.

  In general, power tools, and more particularly tools that control a shaping element along an orbital path for engagement with a work surface, for example an orbital polisher (or polisher) intended to be used with finish coatings on automobiles, do not have a structure allowing precise and efficient control and operation by the operator of the shaping element when it engages the work surface. It is important that an operator can precisely guide the tampon along its orbital path along a work surface and simultaneously control the pressure with which the tampon is applied to the work surface. If an operator applies excessively high pressure, such as not being able to control the entire weight of the power tool unit and prevent it from being applied to the pad, and therefore , the work surface, the finish can be damaged or even destroyed. Also, if the pressure is too low, the finish is not properly polished. The vibratory reaction associated with the orbital movement of the pad also considerably affects the operator's ability to control the polisher because this vibratory reaction experienced by the polisher operator is generally much greater than that associated with other power tools. type

non-orbital.

  It is also desirable that an operator can reach a relatively large area on the work surface from a generally fixed position without losing control of the pressure applied by the pad on the work surface. The increase in vibration due to the orbital movement as mentioned above increases the loss of control when the operator extends his arms to reach areas on the work surface, for example the automobile, far from his body. Thus, for example, it is known to provide a single handle of the flywheel type on a polisher for gripping, with the handle extending horizontally from the center of a vertical housing for the motor. Such handles do not allow an operator to precisely control the polisher using one hand, especially when the operator moves the polisher away from his body to reach relatively large areas on the surface being polished without having to adjust

  continuously stand up and move around.

  Another problem related to the operation of these tools is the location of the means used to power their motor, the electrical connection cord taking care of said supply being often connected to the housing, or connection strands being mounted on the housing. tool, which increases the risk that the power cord and its associated connection head will contact the work surface and the finish will be polished during actuation of the polisher. This is undesirable due to the risk of deterioration of the finish by said contact. The connection strands also have the disadvantage that when the working surface is close to the ground, for example in the lower portions of the external surface of an automobile, the connection interface between the heads of the strands and cords feed can touch the ground, possibly wet, which constitutes a danger for the operator. If the water causes a short circuit to ground, the power supply to the tool is suddenly interrupted, which can damage both the power tool and the surface in engagement with the tool. Furthermore, the cord is generally inappropriately placed near the part of the tool used by the operator to support the tool during its actuation, that is to say near the handle or handles, This has the consequence that the operator must continually adjust his support for the tool and his grip on the handle or handles during the actuation of the tool because the

power cord annoyance.

  When the electrical connection strands extend from the housing, a common problem is linked to the accidental separation between the head of the connection strand and the corresponding head of the power cord connected thereto. When a connection strand is not used and the power cord is connected directly to an electrical receptacle on the housing,

  the problem of accidental separation also occurs at said receptacle.

  This is a specific problem with orbital polishers and floor polishers because they are generally used with automobile surfaces that require the operator to move around the automobile to polish or wax the full extent of its exterior surfaces. Such displacement can apply a voltage on the interface between the electrical supply and the electrical receptacle of the tool, whether on the head of a connection strand fixed to the housing or on the housing itself. In addition, the increased levels of vibration produced within the polisher housing exacerbate the problem of accidental separation because the cord or strands are constantly under stress.

  intermittent tension due to oscillations of vibrations of the polisher.

  Thus, there is a need for a power tool, in particular a power tool which controls its shaping element along an orbital path, which allows an operator to efficiently and precisely control the shaping element and reach a relatively large area. on a work surface from a generally fixed position. There is also a need for an ergonomic motor tool as described above which removes the electrical connection constituting a hindrance for the control and operation of the tool and appreciably limits disconnections at the interface between the power supply and the receptacle receiving the power supply

of the tool.

  According to the present invention an electric polisher is proposed, which

  polisher solves the aforementioned problems of the prior art.

  The electric polisher comprises a central housing comprising an upper part and a lower part and a front part and a rear part with a rotary pad mounted adjacent to the lower part of the housing. A front handle extends horizontally outward from the front part of the housing substantially parallel to the upper part and to the lower part of the housing, adjacent to the lower part of the housing, above the latter. A rear handle extends outward from the rear portion of the housing and extends vertically between the top and bottom of the housing. A flange is formed at the upper part of the housing and a male receptacle, comprising male plugs, is mounted therein. The male receptacle is adapted to be electrically connected to a female plug head of an electric cord supplying the floor polisher. The flange is hollowed out in the upper part of the housing with the receptacle male plugs extending from the housing in the flange. A cord lock is provided and includes a cord receiving groove in the upper part of the housing, adjacent to the flange and a cantilever tongue to retain a

  portion of an electrical cord in the groove.

  The bi-planar control permitted by the front and rear handles constitutes an improvement compared to the models of the prior art, for example with that with a single steering wheel type described above or when two handles are provided but are not 'not extend in respective vertical and horizontal planes. The positioning of the horizontal front handle adjacent to the bottom of the housing allows for improved control over the rotary pad when applied to a work surface, particularly with regard to the pressure with which the pad is applied to the surface . The vertical handle contributes to improved control, particularly when an operator reaches the tool from a relatively fixed position and cannot use both hands to control and grip the handle or handles. In addition, with the flange and the male receptacle therein and the cord blocking being positioned at the upper part of the housing, the cord is substantially distant from the grip portion of the handles and from the interface between the pad and the surface. and is kept in connection with the male receptacle during the operation of the floor polisher, even when a voltage is applied to the cord. In addition, with the cord head mounted on the housing in the recessed receptacle at the top of the housing, there is little risk of the cord head accidentally engaging the work surface or wet floor, as is possible

  with other polishers using connecting strands.

  In one form, the front handle includes a first gripping portion spaced toward the front of the housing and extending beyond the housing on each side thereof. The rear handle may include a second arc grip portion extending from the top of the housing to a point spaced toward the rear of the housing substantially horizontally aligned with the bottom of the housing. Preferably, the first gripping portion comprises an arcuate section and the rear handle, the cord receiving groove, the flange and the arcuate section are aligned along a vertical reference plane extending from the front part of the housing to the rear of the housing. The front handle may include parallel straight sections spaced from each other on each side of the housing and connected to the first gripping portion with the first gripping portion and the straight sections cooperating to define

  a first gripping opening towards the front of the housing.

  In one form, the groove and the tongue cooperate to define an inlet slot via which an electrical cord can be inserted into the groove. Preferably, the housing, the front and rear handles, the flange and the locking of

  cord are formed in one piece.

  In another form of the present invention, the electric floor polisher includes a central housing with the motor in the housing for driving the pad along an orbital path. The connection structure is hollowed out at the upper part of the housing to mount a male receptacle therein. The cord blocking structure is hollowed out at the top of the housing to maintain an electrical connection connection between the electrical supply cord and the connection means. A horizontal front handle extending outwards from the housing from the lower part thereof and a vertical rear handle extending between the upper part and the lower part of the housing are provided. The front and rear handles define first and second respective grip openings to allow bi-planar two-handed actuation of the floor polisher to guide

  a pad along a work surface.

  Preferably, the connection structure is in the form of a flange recessed in the upper part of the housing so that the male plugs of the receptacle extend from the housing in the flange and are not

  exposed above the upper part of the housing.

  In one form, the horizontal front handle is arranged symmetrically around a horizontal central axis passing through the housing and

  aligned with the vertical rear handle.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention will also emerge

  of the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings o:

  Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for drawing, sanding, polishing or the like according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevational view of the left side of the device shown in Figure 1, having a front handle and a rear handle and a paddle actuator on the rear handle; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1 showing in detail the engagement of a first and a second housing shell member which defines a cord lock

and a collar for a male plug.

  Figure 4 is an elevational view of the right side of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Figure 1 showing the counterweight assembly comprising an amount to

  quick exchange for mounting a polishing pad.

  Figure 7 is an enlarged top plan view of the cord locking assembly, the collar and the plug of the device shown

  by FIG. 1, as it appears in FIG. 3.

  Figure 8A is a side sectional view taken along lines 8A-8A of Figure 7; Figure 8B is a sectional side view taken along lines 8B-8B of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a rear sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 7; Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1 showing the arrangement details of the DC motor with a support plate and a straightening assembly, a vane actuator with a button locking, as well as the counterweight and buffer assemblies; Figure 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the motor and support plate assembly and the paddle actuator and its locking mechanism mounted in the first housing shell member shown in Figure 10; Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the paddle actuator and locking button assembly shown in Figure 16; FIG. 13 is a side elevation view, in partial section, of the mounted paddle actuator and locking button assembly shown in FIG. 10; Figure 14 is a perspective view of the support plate assembly and mounted recovery assembly shown in Figure 1 0; Figure 15 is an exploded view of the support plate and rectifier assembly shown in Figure 14; FIG. 16 is a side view in section of the counterweight and polishing pad assembly showing a mounting plate for the pad and a mounting post and the retaining ball inserted through an axial reinforcement of the mounting plate of the sanding pad Figure 17 is an enlarged sectional view of the support post and the axial reinforcement shown in Figure 16 showing a circumference groove in the axial reinforcement with the retaining ball in the groove; Figure 18 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the device shown in Figure 17, showing the amount inserted through the axial reinforcement with the retaining ball flush with the bottom of the reinforcement in order to reversibly fix the buffer to the amount ; Figure 1 9 is a side sectional view of the amount representing the retaining ball connected to a plastic support which is integral with a withdrawal of the amount; Figure 20 is an enlarged perspective view of the first housing shell member; Figure 21 is an enlarged perspective view of the second housing shell member; Figure 22 is a schematic electrical diagram of the assembly

  DC motor according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1 illustrates an ergonomic device 10 intended for

  ink, polishing, sanding or other, according to the present invention.

  The device 10 according to the invention has a symmetrical shape according to a vertical reference plane, not shown, extending so

  central from a front end 12 to a rear end 14.

  The device 10 includes a housing 16 preferably provided with a first housing shell member 18 and a second housing shell member 20 which, when connected to each other, define a dividing line 21 s 'extending in a vertical reference plane along which the housing 16 is symmetrical, as shown in Figure 3. Preferably, the first and second housing shell members 18 and 20 are molded plastic their different parts described in this document being adapted the to each other. The corresponding parts of each of the symmetrical housing members 18 and 20 are identified by the same reference number, the parts of the first housing member 18 being provided in addition with the letter "a" and the parts of the second housing member

having the letter "b".

  The housing 1 6 includes a main central housing 22 in which is

  mounted the motor assembly 24, clearly represented by FIGS. 10 and 11.

  The main central housing 22 includes a front handle 26 and a rear handle 28 in extension thereof. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the main central housing 22 includes a substantially flat top 30 and a lower part 32 and the front and rear handles 26 and 28 extend transversely towards each other the front handle 26 extending horizontally outwards towards the front end 12 from the main central housing 22 between and practically parallel to the top and to the bottom part 32 thereof while the rear handle 28 extends outwards towards the end rear 14 from the main central housing 22 and extends vertically and in an arc between the

  top 30 and the bottom part 32 of the main central housing 22.

  The rear handle 28 has a hollow interior 34 in which a box-shaped switch housing 36 for a switching mechanism 37 shown schematically in Figure 22, and an actuator pallet 38 are mounted. The actuator pallet 38 extends from the interior 34 through a low slot 35 formed in the handle 28 at a predetermined distance outside the hollow interior 34 of the handle

  rear in a grip opening 39 limited by the rear handle 28.

  The pallet 38 has an arcuate shape corresponding practically to the contour of the rear handle 28 so as to allow easy and easy operation when the user grasps the rear handle 28 by its part in

  arc shape as will be described below.

  At the top 30 of the housing 16, a raised region forming a wedge-shaped collar 40 is formed in which a male plug or connection socket 42 can be mounted in order to receive a socket socket head of an electric cord (not shown) for electrically connect an alternating power source, at 110 volts at 60 Hz, to the motor assembly 24. Adjacent to the collar region 40 towards the rear end 14 of the housing 16, a cord locking mechanism 44 is

  defined in the apex 30 of the housing, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.

  The cord locking mechanism 44 prevents accidental disconnection of the female plug connected to the collar region 40 of the male plug 42. Thus, the motor 24 being activated to control a shaping element, such as a buffer of polishing 46, and the polishing pad 46 being controlled along an orbital path as described below, the aforementioned shape of the housing 16 allows an operator to easily handle the device 10 of the present invention with both hands to exercise control according to two planes on the device 10 while the polishing pad 46 is moved over the shaping surface along its orbital path without having to grip the main housing 22 to guide and efficiently and precisely control the pad 46 on the shaping surface. Furthermore, the establishment of the electrical connection between the device 10 and the electrical cord for supplying alternating current thereof in a recessed location at the top 30 of the housing and the cord locking mechanism 44 being adjacent to that -this keeps the bead in place away from the interface between the pad 46 and the surface being shaped, for example for bodywork finishes, which at the same time limits disconnections interrupting the processes of encircling, sanding or polishing in which the

device 10 can be used.

  Now examining more specifically the configuration of the housing 16, it is remarkable that the first and second housing shell members 18 and 20 contribute to the formation of the front and rear handles 26 and 28, of the collar region 40 and of the locking mechanism. cord 44 described above. More specifically and with reference to FIG. 3, the first housing shell member 18 includes a half of main housing part 22a, a half of front handle 26a, a half of rear handle 28a, a half of region forming collar 40a and II. one half of the cord locking mechanism 44a. Likewise, the second housing shell member 20 includes one half of main housing part 22b, one half of front handle 26b, one half of rear handle 28b, one half of collar region 40b and one half of cord locking mechanism. 44b. The first housing shell member 18 has threaded protrusions 48 and the second housing shell member has embedded recesses 50 formed therein each of the recesses 50 corresponding to a threaded protrusion 52, as indicated

Figures 10, 20 and 21.

  To assemble the device 10, the internal components comprising the motor assembly 24, the switch housing 36, the actuator pallet 38 and the connection socket 42 are mounted on the first housing shell member 18, as shown in FIG. FIG. 11, the second housing shell member 20 then being disposed against the first housing shell member 18 so as to align the threaded protrusions 52 of the second housing member 20 with the corresponding threaded protrusions 48 of the first housing shell member 18. When the housing members 18 and 20 are thus aligned, the screws 54 introduced into the threaded protrusions 52 can in turn be introduced into the protrusions 48 to fix the housing shell members 18 and 20 to each other the heads screws 54 being placed in the recesses 50 embedded in the

  second member of housing 20 so as not to exceed it.

  When the first and second housing shell members 18 and 20 are attached to each other, the main housing portion halves 22a and 22b help define an interior space 56 in which the motor assembly 24 is mounted. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the main housing portion 22 thus formed has a pear-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The raised collar region 40 has a triangular cross section, and, as previously mentioned, protrudes from the substantially flat top 30 of the housing 16. The wedge-shaped collar region 40 has a central area

  recessed oblong 58 in which the connection socket 42 is placed.

  On examining the configuration of the front handle 26, each of the main housing part halves 22a and 22b has a linked triangular part 60a and 60b, respectively, which extends horizontally outward and forward from main housing parts 22a and 22b between and practically parallel to the top 30 and the bottom part 32 of the housing. From the outermost front corner of the triangular parts 60a and 60b are extended respectively channel-shaped straight sections 62a and 62b so that the housing shell members 18 and 20 being connected to each of them, the straight sections in channel shape 62a and 62b extend substantially parallel to each other and the channels open opposite one another. The straight sections 62a and 62b extend forward in channel-shaped grip portions 64a and 64b, respectively, which extend at an angle from their respective channel-shaped straight sections 62a and 62b toward forward towards each other to the distal ends 66a and 66b which are contiguous to each other along a dividing line 21 and define a folded section of the front handle 26 in which the channels open back towards the main housing 22 the housing shell members 18 and

being linked.

  Intermediate horizontal support members 67a and 67b extend inside the channels of the respective cross sections 62a and 62b and the channel-shaped angular parts 64a and 64b, as clearly shown in Figures 20 and 21. The corresponding protrusions 48 and 52 are formed on the intermediate support members 67a and 67b at the distal ends 66a and 66b and can be in alignment with one another when the housing members 18 and 20 are assembled so that one of the screws 54 introduced into the threaded protrusions of aligned front handle will allow fixing between the housing members 18 and 20 and the distal ends of front handle 66a and 66b. In this way, the front handle 26 is produced by constituting a front grip opening 69 by the connection

  mentioned above between the parts having an angle 64a and 64b.

  The housing shell members 1 8 and 20 further comprise gripping portions in the rear handle arc 68a and 68b which extend integrally from the approaches of the rear end of the apex 30 of the main housing 22 and, more specifically, from the rear of the cord locking mechanism 44. The arc grip portions 68a and 68b continue rearward and vertically downward to a point aligned with the bottom portion 32 of the main housing 22 so as to extend practically in a quarter circle. At this point, the rear handle 28 has rectilinear connection sections 70a and 70b, respectively, which extend from their respective rear handle arc grip portions 68a and 68b back to the main housing portions 22a and 22B on the lower part 32 thereof. To connect the rear handle parts 28a and 28b, one of the threaded protrusions 48 is produced in the arc grip parts 68a and one of these is produced in the rectilinear connection section 70a as are the corresponding threaded protrusions 52 in the gripping part in arc 68b and in the rectilinear connection section 70b so that when screws 54 are introduced into the aligned rear handle protrusions 48 and 52, the rear handle parts 28a and 28b are fixed to each other other for

  form the rear handle 28 and constitute the gripping opening 39.

  As shown in Figures 20 and 21, the rear handle portions 28a and 28b take the form of channels with opposite walls each of which includes a smaller inner wall 72a and 72b and a larger outer wall 74a and 74b and a connecting wall 76a and 76b crossing their respective inner and outer walls 72 and 74 so that when the rear handle parts 28a and 28b are connected, they define a hollow rear handle 28 with the hollow interior space 34 of the rear handle in which the switch housing 36 is mounted. In addition, the interior walls 72a and 72b each include contour portions 80a and 80b along the arc grip portions 68a and 68b so that when the rear handle portions 28a and 28b are connected, the contour portions 80a and 80b contribute to constituting the bottom slot 35 for the actuator pallet 38. When the actuator pallet 38 is mounted in the hollow interior space 34 of the rear handle, the actuator pallet 38 includes a part which extends through the bottom slot 35 in the rear grip opening 39 urged by

  a spring at a predetermined distance beyond the interior wall 72.

  The configuration of the adjacent cord locking mechanism 44

  to the collar region 40 will now be described by

  reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, 20 and 21. As mentioned previously, the cord locking mechanism 44 is disposed at the rear of the collar region 40 in the form of a raised wedge and includes a hollow or the surface of a well 82 constituted by recessed U-shaped surfaces 82a and 82b in the parts of the top of the respective main housing 30a and 30b, as clearly shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. A straight flange 84 extends from the bottom of the recessed portion 82b to the top of the collar region 40 projecting in a corner with a tab 86 formed above at right angles to the flange 84 and projecting above the recess 82 so that the top of the tab 86 is flush with the top of the corner collar 40. The hollow part 82a is provided with parallel lateral flanges 88 and 90 spaced apart from each other along the two sides of the hollow part 82a and with parts

  constituting overhanging beak 92 and 94 which project towards each other

above the hollow part 82a.

  Thus, when the housing members 18 and 20 are aligned and fixed together, the cord locking mechanism 44 is formed. When the female plug of an electrical cord linked in the collar region 40 to the forks 43 of the connection plug 42, the cord part adjacent to the female plug can be inserted into the zigzag path slot 96 formed by the parts constituting overhanging beak 92 and 94 and the tab 86. The cord portion adjacent to the female plug inserted in the insertion slot 96 can be positioned so as to be fixed between the hollow surface 82 and the overhanging tab 86 positioned at the above the ends of the bead part extending around the straight flange 84 and through access openings 98 and 100 made in the wall part 102 of the recessed surface 82b on both sides of the flange 84 In practice, when the device 10 is in use and the cord is stretched, such as when for example the device is moved away from the electrical power outlet, the voltage created by fixing the cord will be practically absorbed by the friction of the cord between the hollow surface 82 and the overhanging tab 86 and the overhanging parts 92 and 94 so that the interface between the female plug with the male pins 43 will undergo little or no voltage during normal use, which significantly reduces the possibility of accidental disconnection of

the interface.

  On examination of FIGS. 12 and 13, the construction and the operation of the actuator pallet 38 appear, including a locking mechanism 104 which is mounted in close relation thereto. The actuator pallet 38 has the shape of an elongated arc-shaped channel with a low surface 106 having an arc part 107 provided with a radius of curvature practically identical to that of the arc grip part of rear handle 68 and being adapted when gripped by an operator. Two straight parallel side walls 108 and 110 extend along both sides of the bottom wall 106 so that the channel of the arcuate elongated actuator vane 38 opens towards the hollow interior space 34 of

rear handle.

  The elongated actuator pallet 38 has a front end 112 and a rear end 114 and has a pair of pivots forming pivots 116 and 118 each of which extends laterally each from one of the walls 108 and 110 at the front end 112 of the pallet 38. The actuator pallet 38 is mounted in the interior space 34 of the rear handle by means of a pair of corresponding trunnion supports 120 and 122 in the housing members 18 and 20 respectively. The journal supports 120 and 122 are placed adjacent to the well 82 towards the rear of the latter so that when the housing members 18 and 20 are secured, the actuator pallet 38 extends from the base of the well 82 along the curve of the rear handle arc grip portion 68 to the rear end of the contour 80. At the rear end 114 of the actuator pallet 38, a support 1 24 intended the locking mechanism 104 is installed. The journals 116 and 118 being mounted in their respective journal supports 120 and 122, the support 124 extends practically horizontally and is normally urged to engage in a transverse part 126 of the interior wall 172 at the rear of the clipping 80. A pair of spring supports 128 and 130 are formed on the bottom surface 106 the front spring support 128 being located on the arc portion 107 of the bottom surface 106 and the spring support 130

  being located on the horizontal support part 124 of the bottom surface 106.

  The actuator pallet 38 is further equipped with an opening 132 produced along its arc portion 107 in the lower surface 106 and the

  walls 108 and 110 to receive the locking mechanism 104 through.

  More specifically, the locking mechanism 104 includes a button 134 and a substantially flat base member 136 extending rearward therefrom. The locking mechanism 104 being assembled in a connection relationship with the actuator pallet 38 and the button 134 projecting through the pallet opening 132, the base 136 extends from a support part 137 formed on the rear part of the arc part 107 adjacent to the rear of the button opening 132 in the channel of the actuator pallet 38 and in the channel of the support part 124 o the base 1 36 has a curved end 1 38 which is adapted to engage in a pivot rod 140 fixed to the pallet 38 extending above the walls 108 and 110 in the support part 124. The partition wall 141 extends along the rear of the button 134 and of the flat part of the base 136 and upwards beyond the channel formed by the pallet 38 where it ends on a transverse wall 142 erected from the base 136 the transverse wall 142 extending so similar upwards beyond the channel of the pallet 38. At the top of the transverse wall 132, a curved cam surface 144 is produced in order to lock the pallet 138 in a

  closed position, which will be described in more detail below.

  Above the curved end 138 and below the curved cam surface 144, an intermediate spring engaging member 146 extends rearward from the transverse wall 142. A small spring 148 is mounted in compression between the intermediate spring engaging member 146 and the low surface 106 in the support 124 surrounding the spring support 130. In this way, the locking mechanism 104 is normally biased on the pivot rod 140 so that the button 134 extends through opening 132. The rear handle portion 28a includes a spring engaging flange 150 formed in the interior of the rear handle 34 disposed along the contoured portion a of the rear handle 28. A large spring 152 is mounted in compression between the spring engaging flange 150 and the base 136 in order to surround the spring support 128 for the purpose of normally acting on the actuator pallet 38 in a ne open position in which the pallet 38 projects from the slot 80 of the interior rear wall of the handle

  82 in the rear grip opening 39.

  The rear handle portion 28 has ribbed switch support legs 154 and 156 formed in the rear handle interior space 34 along the slit 80 the ribbed legs 154 and 156 framing and supporting both sides of the housing switch 36. The switch housing 36 includes an activation piston 158 (see Figure 11) extending therefrom and the actuator vane 38 includes an upstanding trapezoidal flange or actuator member 160 in front of it. opening of the opening 132 and of the support 128 adapted to engage the

  activation piston 158 when the pallet 38 is depressed.

  In practice, an operator can easily use one of his hands wrapped around the rear handle 28 to orient the polishing pad 46 adequately on the shaping surface if it is necessary, for example, to perform a sanding, a polishing or equivalent. Due to the rear extension of the rear handle 28 from the main housing 22, below which the pad 46 is mounted, the operator can use the rear handle 28 to reach an extended region of the shaping surface from a relatively fixed position. After adequate orientation of the pad 46 on the shaping surface; the actuator pallet 38 can be pressed in opposition to the bias of the spring in a closed position the pallet 38 pivoting around its journals 116 and 118 and carrying the locking mechanism 104 as well as by engaging the

  support part 137 with the base 136 of the locking mechanism 104.

  When the pallet 38 is thus depressed, the flange 1 60 engages and likewise depresses the activation piston 158 closing the switching circuit (see FIG. 22) to activate the motor assembly 24 and control the buffer 46

on its orbital path.

  By providing an actuator pallet 38 in an elongated arc which follows the contour of the gripping part in the rear handle arc 68 an operator can grasp the rear handle 28 in different positions on the gripping part 68, while remaining susceptible to push the pallet 38 into its operational position without the need for an operation independent of his other hand and / or before the operator is ready to support and maneuver the

  device 10 by the rear handle 28 during its operation

  this. To deactivate the motor assembly 24, and therefore the device 10, an operator must simply release the pallet 38 which, due to the action of the spring in its open extension position, will deactivate the motor assembly 24 by disengaging the flange 160 of the activation piston 158 for

open the switching circuit.

  Furthermore, if an operator does not wish to continuously depress the pallet 38 during the operation of the device 10, the locking mechanism 104 can be easily accessed and used in a simple manner without interrupting the operation of the device 10 and / or requiring the intervention of the other hand of the operator. As previously indicated, the locking mechanism 104 includes a transverse wall 142 extending into the interior rear handle space 34. In the interior space 34, a locking flange 162 is connected to the exterior wall 74a disposed on the transverse part. of inner wall 126 and comprises a horizontal part 164 and a vertical part 166 connected. In cooperation with the locking flange 162 is a guide flange 168 connected to the outer wall 74a and offset towards

  the front with respect to the vertical part 1 66.

  The pallet 38 and the locking mechanism 104 are arranged so that when the pallet 38 is pushed into its operational position, the cam end 144 will be positioned near the top of the vertical part 166 between the latter and the guide flange 168. In the event of continuous use of the device 10 without the need to continuously depress the pallet 38 in its corresponding operational position, the button member 134 can be pushed towards the interior of the rear handle 34, namely, in the same direction in which the actuator paddle 38 is pressed, against the bias of the spring 148, which has the consequence that the exterior of the curved cam surface 144 causes the cam effect to guide flange 168 and that it is directed above the top of the vertical part 166 of the locking flange 162 and snaps onto the vertical part 166 of the locking flange 162 sou s the effect of the large spring 1 52 while the actuator 38 is maintained in its closed operating position by the thrust applied by the curved end 138 of the pivot rod 140. To obtain the release of the actuator pallet 38 from its locked position, the operator simply has to push the paddle 38 a little more to limit the effect of the large spring 152 enough to allow the spring 148 to push the curved cam end 144 above the top of the part vertical 166 of the locking flange and against the guide flange 168 as well as the pivoting of the curved end 138 around the pivot rod 140. Then, the pallet 38 is released the spring 1 50 urging the pallet 38 in its

  open position to deactivate the motor assembly 24.

  To supply electrical power from the connection socket 42 to the motor assembly 24, the switching mechanism 37 includes an input terminal 170 and an output terminal 172 extending through the faces of the switch housing 36 As clearly shown in FIG. 10, a conductor 174 is electrically connected to the connection socket 42 and extends to the input terminal 170 of the switching mechanism while another conductor 176 extends from the output terminal 172 to a full-wave rectifier 178 intended for the direct current motor 24. A conductor 181 is electrically connected to the connection socket 42 and extends directly to the rectifier 178. Conventionally, the rectifier 178 converts the AC power received on the DC connection socket 42 for the DC motor assembly 24. Thus, when the switching circuit is closed under the action when the pallet 38 is pushed into its operational position, a direct current supply is

  supplied to the armature coils, which will be explained in detail here.

  The various components of the engine assembly are supported and oriented directly by the housing shell members 18 and 20 which, when connected, contribute to fixing the engine in its place in the main housing 22 without having to use an external frame as a container for supporting and positioning the various components of the engine and / or a separate base or a chassis element for supporting the frame in the housing. On examining FIGS. 10 and 11, the motor assembly 24 consists of an armature 180 which may be of conventional design, comprising a core and windings 182 aligned around a shaft 184 on which the collector 186 is also located. A steel stator frame 188 in the form of an open cylinder is installed with a pair of large permanent magnets 190 and 192 supported inside the magnets being separated by a space of about 12.7 mm between them at their end in the

built 188.

  A support plate 194 supports the brushes 196 and 198 in respective brush housings 200 and 202 thereof and the rectifier 178 in a housing for rectifier 204 formed inside, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. By With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the armature shaft 184 has upper and lower ends 206 and 208 provided with a spherical bush 210 mounted on the upper end 206 of the shaft 184 and with a rolling bearing with ball 212 mounted on the shaft 184 to

  near its lower end 208.

  The first and second housing shell members 18 and 20 each include a plurality of generally designated alignment and support members 214 which are symmetrically disposed along a longitudinal axis 216 extending centrally through the main housing 22 The alignment and support members 214 snap into the outer surface 218 of the stator frame 188 and tightly block the bearings 210 and 212 when the housing members 18 and are fixed to each other by so that the stator frame 188 and the armature 180 are aligned along the longitudinal axis 216 the armature shaft 184 extending

  along this and the cylindrical stator frame 188 encircling the armature 180.

  In this way the motor assembly 24 and the housing 16 are assembled with each other in a single operation without requiring a separate assembly operation concerning the motor before it is mounted in the housing. Furthermore, the motor circuit elements including the switch housing 36, the connection socket 42 and the support plate 194, including the brushes 196 and 198 and the rectifier 178 can be assembled.

  as a sub-assembly before mounting in the housing 16.

  More specifically and with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, the support plate 194 preferably has a U shape with opposite rod parts 220 and 222 and a basic transverse part 224 which extends between them and contributes with the parts rod 220 and 222 to form a central manifold space 226. The support plate 194 is mounted in the housing 16 so that the rod portions 220 and 222 have a space on both sides of the manifold 186 with the manifold 186 positioned in the central space 226. The brush housing 200 is mounted on the rod part 220 and the brush housing 202 is mounted on the rod part 222 at 180 apart from one another around the manifold 186. The brush housings 200 and 202 each including a main body 228 and 230, respectively, having respective brush receiving holes 232 and 234 extending therethrough. The central guide slots 236 and 238 are formed at the top of the main bodies 228 and 230, respectively, the guide slots 236 and 238 communicating with the respective orifices 232 and 234. The brushes 196 and 198 are introduced into their receiving orifices. respective brushes 232 and 234 and have associated conductors 240 and 242, respectively, each of them having respective flat terminals 244 and 246 for electrically connecting brushes 196 and 198

to rectifier 178.

  The brushes 196 and 198 being placed in their orifices 232 and 234, and the support plate 194 being mounted in the housing 16 near the collector 186, the brushes 196 and 198 are biased in such a way that at least some of them ci extends into the central space 226 in contact with the outer surface 218 of the manifold 186. In this way, the brushes 196 and 198 overlap by sliding the outer surface of the manifold 218 during its rotation around the shaft of armature 184 to electrically connect the power source to the armature coils. To promote contact of the brushes 196 and 198 with the manifold 186, each of the housings 200 and 202 includes respective linings 248 and 250 and springs 252 and 254. The main body 228 and the main body 230 include enlarged outer ends 256 and 258, respectively. The enlarged outer end 256 includes oblique surfaces 260 and 262 facing each other and extending internally towards the respective right shoulder surfaces 264 and 266. Likewise, the enlarged end 258 includes oblique surfaces facing each other in opposition 268 and 270 extending internally towards the respective right shoulder surfaces 272 and 274. To hang and lock the lining 248 on the main body 228, the lining 248 has a pair of oblique surfaces 276 and 278 extending from both sides of the latter to the respective right shoulder surfaces 280 and 282. Likewise, the lining 250 is provided with oblique surfaces 284 and 286 extending from the two sides of the latter towards the respective shoulder surfaces 288 and 290. The rear interior surfaces of each of the linings 248 and 250 are equipped with weak spring positioning protrusions

  raised 292 and 294, respectively.

  To assemble the brushes 196 and 198 in their respective housings 200 and 202, the brushes 196 and 198 are inserted in their respective holes 232 and 234 with their conductors 240 and 242 extending from the holes 232 and 234 through slots 236 and 238 of these the flat terminals 244 and 246 are then connected to the appropriate output terminals of the rectifier 178, as described below. To drive the brush 196 through the orifice 232 of the housing 228 and into the central space 226, the spring 252 is placed in the orifice 232 with one end in contact with the brush 196 and its other end placed on the protuberance 292 the lining 248 then being pressed closely on the enlarged end 256 of the main body 228 of the housing 200. The lining 248 is pressed tightly on the main body 228 by moving the oblique surfaces 276 and 278 against and along the oblique surfaces 260 and 262 so as to drive the sides of the gasket outward as the gasket 248 is pushed onto the main body. Once the oblique surfaces pushed one beyond the other, the sides of the lining 248 will return to their original straight configuration, the shoulder surfaces 280 and 282 being in confrontation with the surfaces of respective shoulders 264 and 266 on the main body so as to lock the lining 248 from above. When the lining 248 is locked in place, the spring 252 will act to urge the brush 196 so as to cause it to come out of the central orifice 232 in the central space 226, movement limited by the connection of the conductor 240 with the inner end of the guide slot 236, as clearly shown in FIG. 13. The lining 250 is likewise pressed closely and locked on the main body 230 so as to

  urge the brush 1 98 through the hole 234 to the central space 226.

  In the base part 224 of the support plate 194, the recessed rectifier housing 204 is made. The rectifier housing 204 includes a pair of straight elastic locking members 296 and 298, the locking members 296 and 298 each having an enlarged locking portion 300 and 302 at their respective upper ends. The rectifier 178 has a body portion 304 with a pair of input terminals 306 and 308 and a pair of output terminals 310 and 312 extending from the body portion 304. The rectifier 178 is fixed in the rectifier housing 204 by pushing the part of the rectifier forming a body 304 against the enlarged ends 300 and 302 of the elastic locking members 296 and 298. This results in the driving of the locking members 296 and 298 outwards which thus makes it possible to push the rectifier body part 304 beyond the widened ends 300 and 302 to place it in the housing 204 the elastic locking members 296 and 298 then fixing it by return in a locking position in which the widened ends 300 and 302 adjoin the upper face of the body part 304 in order to trap

  securely the rectifier 178 in the recessed housing 204.

  A pair of conductor guide tabs 314 and 316 extend from the support plate 194 practically at the junctions of the leg portion.

  support plate 224 with the leg portions 220 and 222. The sub-

  the assembly formed by the branch socket 42, the switch housing 36 and the rectifier 178 and the brushes 196 and 198 of the support plate 194 have electrical conductor connections described below. As anyone skilled in the art will see, various arrangements of conductive wires can be implemented

  with the motor assembly 24 in order to apply its electrical supply thereto.

  Preferably, the conductor 174 is electrically connected to one end of the connection socket 42 and on its other end it has a flat terminal 174a which is electrically connected to the input terminal of the switching mechanism 37. The conductor 176 is provided with a flat terminal 176a integral with the output terminal 172 of the switching mechanism 27 while its other flat terminal 176b at the other end of the conductor 17 is linked to one of the input terminals 306 and 308 of the rectifier 178. The conductor 181 is electrically connected to one end of the connection socket 42 and at its other end has a flat terminal 181a which is linked to the other end of the rectifier input terminals 306 and 308. The brush conductors 240 and 242 are each electrically connected to one of the input terminals 310 and 312 preferably with the flat terminal 244 connected to the output terminal 310 and the flat terminal 246 connected to the output terminal 312, as shown in FIG. 14. To insulate the non-insulated braided conductor wire 242 from other similar non-insulated braided conductors, the conductor wire 242 extends from the guide slot 238 around the tab of conductor guide 316 and to the output terminal 312. As it clearly appears, the conductor guide tabs 314 and 316 can be used to guide the conductor wires connected to the terminals of the rectifier in different ways so as to avoid non-insulated conductors

  to get in touch with each other.

  For mounting the rectifier and the brush support plate 194 in the interior space of the housing 56, recesses constituting shoulders 318 and 320 are made along the outer edges of the support plate rod portions 220 and 222, respectively. On examining FIGS. 11 and 20, the support and alignment members 214 of the housing member 18 comprise a pair of vertical notched ribs 322a and 324a each of the vertical ribs comprising a juxtaposition member 326a and 328a extending laterally from the notched area to the housing member 18. The vertical ribs 322a and 324a are spaced laterally from one another in the interior space portion of the housing 56a the spacing corresponding to the distance between the shoulders of support plate 318 and 320 so as to receive flush with the shoulders of support plate 318 and 320 in the notches of vertical rib against the juxtaposition elements 326a and 328a when the plate 194 is mounted in the housing member 18. When the support plate 194 is thus mounted, the longitudinal axis

  216 extends through the central space of support plate 226.

  To fix the support plate 194 in the interior space of housing 56, the corresponding notched vertical ribs 322b and 324b are produced in the housing member 20 (see FIG. 21) their notches being aligned vertically with the notches of the vertical ribs 322a and 324a when the housing members 18 and 20 are connected. The notched vertical ribs 322b and 324b snap into the ends 334 and 336 of the support plate rod portions 220 and 222 projecting beyond the respective brush housing 228 and 230 so as to prevent movement of the plate support 194 in space

housing interior 56.

  To mount the armature 180 in the interior space of the housing 56, the armature shaft 184 being aligned along the longitudinal axis 216, the alignment and support members 214 include upper and lower bearing engagement members. 338a and 340a in the housing member 18 and upper and lower bearing engagement members 338b and 340b in the housing member 20 which contribute to the constitution of upper and lower pockets in the interior space of the housing 56 the axis longitudinal 216 extending through these pockets. These pockets formed by the bearing engagement members 338 and 340 are configured so as to securely trap the respective upper and lower bearings 210 and 212 to avoid movement in space.

housing interior 56.

  More specifically, since the upper bearing 210 is preferably a spherical bearing, the upper bearing locking member 338 is produced using a pair of curved side walls 342 and 344 the radius of curvature of the side walls 342 and 344 corresponding practically to that of the spherical bearing 210. In this way, the movement of the spherical bearing 210 along the longitudinal axis is avoided by its imprisonment in the upper bearing latching member 338 in the interior housing space 56. In addition, the curved side walls 342 and 344 are connected by upper and lower horizontal members 346 and 348 the upper and lower members 346 and 348 being curved at their ends adjacent to the longitudinal axis 216. Extending between the walls curved side 342 and 344 in an intermediate position between the upper and lower limbs 346 and 348 is a support rib t horizontal 349 having a curved end which does not extend as far towards the axis 216 as the ends of the upper and lower members 346 and 348 to adapt in correspondence with the shape of the spherical bearing 210. Thus, the diameter according to the curved ends of the intermediate support ribs 349a and 349b in each of the housing members 18 and 20 when they are integral is practically the same as the largest diameter passing through the middle of the spherical bearing 210. Similarly, the diameter according to the curved ends of the horizontal upper and lower members 346 and 348 corresponds practically to the smallest diameter between the top and the bottom of the spherical bearing 210 so as to avoid the movement of the latter in a lateral direction when it is fixed and trapped in the interior space of

housing 56.

  The lower bearing interlocking member 340 is constructed similarly to the upper bearing interlocking member 338 except that it is configured to capture the lower bearing 212 which preferably takes the form of an annular bearing ball. The lower bearing engagement member 340 is therefore provided with a pair of spaced straight side walls 350 and 352. The side walls 350 and 352 are interconnected by horizontal upper and lower members 354 and 356 these upper and lower members 354 and 356 having curved ends which end in straight end portions extending to the respective tops and lower parts of the side walls 350 and 352. The housing members 1 8 and 20 being integral, the curved ends of the upper and lower members 354a and 354b and 356a and 356b define a diameter slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the annular bearing 212. Thus, when the annular bearing 212 is fixed and mounted in the lower bearing latching member 340, the upper and lower members 354 and 356 prevent the bottom annular bearing

  21 2 to move on its axis along the longitudinal axis 216.

  By extension between the side walls 350 and 352 in an intermediate position to the upper and lower members 354 and 356 is a horizontal support rib 358 provided with a curved end ending in the side walls 350 and 352 so that when the housing members 18 and 20 are integral, the horizontal support rib parts 358a and 358b of each of the housing members have a diameter according to their curved ends corresponding to the outside diameter of the annular bearing 212 so as to trap it and prevent its movement according to a lateral direction in the interior housing space 56. Thus, the armature shaft 184 being mounted so as to be able to rotate in the upper spherical bearing 210 and the lower annular bearing 212 and the bearings 210 and 212 being fixed in the space housing interior 56 in the pockets formed by the landing engagement members 338 and 340, the armature 180 thus that its manifold 186 are aligned in rotation on the shaft 184

  extending along the longitudinal axis 216.

  The cylindrical stator frame 188 is mounted in the interior housing space 56 so as to circumscribe the core and the windings 182 in alignment about the longitudinal axis 216. To mount the cylindrical stator frame 188 in alignment around the axis 216, the alignment and support members 214 include horizontal arch reinforcements 360, spaced vertically in the housing members 18 and 20, as clearly shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. The vertical reinforcing ribs 362 connect the pairs reinforcements in arc with vertical spacing. The reinforcements 360 include upper arch reinforcements 364 and horizontal lower arch reinforcements 366 which extend horizontally slightly further towards the axis 216 than the other arch reinforcements 360 located between them so that when the members of housing 18 and 20 are integral, the upper aligned reinforcements 364a and 364b of the respective housing members 18 and 20 and the lower aligned reinforcements 366a and 366b of the respective housing members 18 and 20 contribute to defining a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter depending on the surface exterior of the frame 218. In this way, the upper reinforcements 364 extend above the upper end surface 368 of the frame 188 and the lower reinforcements 366 extend below the lower end surface of the frame 188 so that the frame is tightly trapped between the upper and lower reinforcements 364 and 366 to oppose the movement according to the longitudinal axis 216. To trap the frame 188 by preventing any lateral movement in the interior space 56, the intermediate arc reinforcements 360 have a radius of curvature corresponding practically to the radius of curvature of the cylindrical frame 188 so that together the 360 arc reinforcements define a diameter practically identical to the diameter of the exterior surface of the frame. As indicated above, the housing members 18 and 20 are preferably made of molded plastic and the alignment and support members 214 including the horizontal reinforcements 360 are preferably made entirely of this material. In this way, the arcuate ends of the plastic reinforcements 360 can snap into place on the outer surface 218 of the frame 188 when the housing members 18 and 20 are connected to each other so as to fix the frame 188 in the interior space 56 in alignment around the longitudinal axis 216 and in wrapping relation with the core of the armature and the windings 182 the force necessary for the fixing being exerted by the

  force due to the insertion of the screws 254 into the aligned protrusions 48 and 52.

  The mounting of the components of the DC motor directly on the housing members 18 and 20 under the effect of the fixing of these represents a cost saving for the manufacture of the device because the assembly of the motor assembly 24 is no longer the subject of a separate assembly operation and can on the contrary be integrated during the same manufacturing operation in the device 10. In addition, the shape of the motor assembly 24 must not necessarily adopt that of a "container" for the frame 188 which would require an extension of the frame comprising fittings and bearing plates to close the cylindrical ends, no more than the motor assembly 24 does not require a base or an independent chassis for mount the "container" of the engine on it. The rectifier is normally mounted in a position adjacent to the "container" of the motor, as well as on the motor chassis, providing for the passage of the conductors of the motor brushes through the motor housing in order to connect them electrically to the rectifier. outside the engine housing. Thus, cost savings can be obtained by reducing the time required for assembly as well as by eliminating the parts associated with an engine comprising a "container" and providing an uninterrupted path of the

  conductors between the brushes and the rectifier.

  As indicated above, the device 10 preferably allows the mounting of a pad 46 for sanding, waxing, polishing or the like. In this form, the housing 16 can be equipped with a sheath 372 formed in its lower part, the sheath 372 having an annular part 374 extending outwards from the lower part 32 of the main housing part 22 aligned on the longitudinal axis 216. Linked to the annular part 374 is a skirt of circumference 376 from which the

  polishing pad 46 can project.

  To allow stable movement of the polishing pad 46 on its orbital path during its actuation, a counterweight assembly 378 is provided. The counterweight assembly 378 includes a buffer mounting upright 380 implanted thereon to allow a

  rapid mounting and dismounting of the buffer 46 on the device 10.

  More specifically and with reference to Figures 16-19, the counterweight assembly 378 includes a flat raised mounting portion 382 and a lower counterweight portion 384 offset from the raised mounting portion 382. The raised mounting portion 382 includes an opening threaded 386 passing through it intended to receive the threaded end 208 of the armature shaft 184 projecting through the annular ball bearing 212. Thus, the threaded end 208 of the armature shaft being in the opening, the set of

  counterweight 378 is mounted on the apparatus 10 to rotate with the shaft 184.

  The quick change pad mounting post 380 is connected to raised mounting portions 382 adjacent to the threaded opening 386 and allows the polishing pad 46 to be mounted such that rotation of the counterweight assembly 378 due to the connection with the armature shaft 184 in the opening 386 produces an almost circular orbital path according to which the pad 46 moves around the shaft 184 and therefore, around the longitudinal axis 216. Because the amount mounting 380 will be aligned with the center of the buffer 46 as described and that the shaft 184 is located between the upright 380 and the counterweight portion 384, during the rotation of the counterweight assembly 378, the portion of counterweight 384 will always be located above the smallest part of the buffer constituted by a line of rope drawn so as to pass through the circular buffer 46 through the shaft 184 and by the width of the counterweight assembly 378 From this In this way, the counterweight part 384 acts in opposition to the forces generated during the rotation of the tampon 46 on its orbital path which in its absence would tend to destabilize the device 10. The tampon 46 responds to a conventional manufacturing method and, under a preferred form has a diameter of 22.8 cm. The pad 46 has a plastic pad mounting plate 388 bonded to its upper surface. Projecting outward from the center of the pad mounting plate 388 is an annular post receiving member 390 having a central port 392 extending therethrough in alignment with the axis port central pad 46. The central hole 392 can be provided with a shaft sleeve 394 fixed inside with a shaft lining 396 mounted to be able to rotate in the shaft sleeve 394

  as well as bearings (not shown).

  The upright 380 has a recess 398 machined near the lower end 400 of the upright 380. To allow reversibility of the mounting of the pad on the mounting post of quick-change pad 380, a retaining ball 402 linked to a plastic support 404, in polyurethane for example, is fixed in the recess 398. The recess 398 has an opening diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the retaining ball 402 so that the retaining ball 402 is introduced by slip into withdrawal 398 when linked to it. The ball 402 being linked to the withdrawal 398 by means of the plastic support 404, the ball 402 protrudes a certain distance beyond the surface of the upright 380 in an extended position. When the ball 402 is mounted on the plastic support 404, the ball 402 can be pressed by exerting a force on the ball 402 which compresses the plastic support so that the ball is flush with the

upright area 380.

  To move the ball 402 in its depressed position, the shaft lining 396 has a diameter practically identical to the diameter of the buffer mounting upright 380 so that the insertion of the upright 380 in the lining 396 causes the initial engagement of the lower curved surface part 406 of the ball 402 in the upper annular end 405 of the sleeve 394. A continuous force exerted downwards on the counterweight assembly 398, and therefore on the upright 380, causes a cam effect of the shaft lining 396 on the curved surface portion 406 by application of a force directed inwards in order to move the ball 402 radially inwards in a position flush with the surface of the upright

  opposition to the stress on the plastic support 404.

  When the ball 402 is in a sunken position relative to the upright 380, the upright 380 can be easily pushed into the shaft sleeve 394 until the bottom 408 of the raised mounting part rests against the top 410 of the raised annular member 390 the counterweight portion 384 being adjacent thereto. Thus, the upright 380 being inserted through the lining 394, the pad 46 is in a reversible fixing state, the lower end 400 extends beyond the shaft lining 396 so that the ball 402 does not does not remain engaged with the shaft lining 396. Consequently, the predetermined force applied to the curved surface part 406 is no longer applied therein so as to allow the retaining ball 402 to rebound under the effect of the support in plastic 404 in its extended position beyond the radius of the upright 380. The ball 402 is mounted on the upright 380 at a predetermined distance from the bottom 408 of the raised mounting part 382 and the length of the shaft sleeve 394 is also predetermined so that when the pad 46 is reversibly fixed to the upright 408 and the ball 402 is in its extended position, the upper curved surface portion 412 comes to abut the lower annular end eure or shoulder 414 of the axle sleeve so that there is no more empty space or play between the receiving member of raised upright 390 and

the counterweight assembly 308.

  When the pad 46 is mounted on the quick change pad mounting post 380 with the holding ball 402 on it and when an operator wishes to change the pad to switch to a pad of another type or because the pad 46 requires replacement due to wear, deterioration or the like, the pad 46 can quickly and easily be removed from the device 10 without consequent delay or

  disassembly likely to complicate the buffer change operation.

  To disassemble the pad 46, an operator simply has to exert a downward force away from the pad mounting post 380 on the pad mounting plate 388 sufficient to cause the cam effect of the low annular shoulder of seal 414 on the upper curved surface part 412 so as to bring the ball 402 in its sunken position level with the surface of the upright against the normal stress of the plastic support 404. The ball 402 being in its position pressed down, a continuous downward force exerted on the pad mounting plate 388 causes the packing 396 to slide from the upright 380 until the pad mounting plate 388 and the pad 46 which is

  linked to it are separated from the amount 380.

  Although the ball 402 and the pad mounting post 380 constitute a reliable mounting of the pad 46 on the device 10, it is possible that during the use of the device 10, sufficient force to cause the movement of the ball holding 402 in its depressed position is applied to the pad 46 and / or to the pad mounting plate 388. In this case, the shaft lining 396 has an intermediate groove with a circumference 416, spaced above the ball of hold 402 to prevent the complete sliding of the upright 380 at

  across the shaft sleeve 394 to the disengaged position.

  The circumference groove 416 has a predetermined radius dimensioned so as to make it suitable for capturing the retaining ball 402 in an extended position in which it protrudes beyond the surface of the upright 380 when it passes above. Thus, the pad 46 being mounted on the upright 380 and an involuntary force being applied to the pad mounting plate 388 or the fixed pad 46 causing the ball 402 to move towards its position inserted in the shaft lining 396, a prolonged movement of the upright 380 through the trim

  axis 396 will eventually bring the ball 402 into contact with the groove 416.

  The stress on the plastic support 404 will push the ball 402 into an extension position in the circumference groove 416 and therefore stop the continuous movement of the upright 380 in the jacket 394 so as to allow an operation offering practically total safety of the device. 10 when the buffer 46 is fixed to the mounting post of

buffer 380.

  Although various characteristics of the use of an electric polishing or encircling apparatus have been illustrated and described, it is possible to implement these characteristics with other tools. In addition, it is clear that many variations and modifications will appear

  to those skilled in the art, and the appended claims

  clearly cover all of these variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and true scope of the present invention.

Claims (16)

  1. Orbital polisher (10) comprising a pad (46) and a motor (24) for controlling the pad along an orbital path for waxing and polishing a surface to be polished, the polisher comprising: a housing (22) to contain the command for the tampon and comprising a front part and a rear part, an upper part (30) and a lower part (32) with the tampon mounted for orbital movement under the lower part of the housing; a front handle (26) extending substantially in a horizontal reference plane towards the outside from the housing, defining a front gripping opening (69) towards the front of the front part of the housing and comprising a first gripping portion (64a, 64b) spaced forward from the front portion of the housing which extends around the front portion of the housing in the horizontal plane to allow an operator to grip the first gripping portion (64a, 64b) at various locations thereon, around the front part of the housing, spaced towards the front of the latter, in order to keep control of the floor polisher with the pad (46) applied to the surface to be polished and driven according to its orbital movement; and a rear handle (28) extending substantially in a vertical reference plane outward from the housing, defining a rear gripping opening (39) towards the rear of the rear portion of the housing and comprising a second portion of grip (68a, 68b) which extends from   a location adjacent to the upper part of the housing at the rear of it   ci down, away from the housing, towards a lowest point spaced rearward and substantially aligned horizontally with the lower part of the housing and in the vertical plane to allow an operator to grasp the second gripping portion (68a, 68b) at various locations thereon, from the location adjacent to the upper part of the housing to the point spaced towards the rear of the lower part of the housing, in order to keep control of the polisher with the pad ( 46) applied to the surface to be polished and driven according to its orbital motion.   2. orbital polisher according to claim 1, wherein the first gripping portion (64a, 64b) of the front handle (26) is oriented symmetrically along the vertical reference plane in which the rear handle (28) extends.   3. Orbital polisher according to claim 1, in which the front handle (26) extends substantially parallel to the upper part and to the   lower part of the housing, adjacent to the lower part of the housing and   above it, so that the front handle (26) is located vertically,   slightly above the lowest point of the rear handle (28).   4. orbital polisher according to claim 1, wherein the first gripping portion (64a, 64b) comprises an arcuate oriented section   symmetrically along the vertical reference plane.   5. orbital polisher according to claim 1, wherein the first gripping portion (64a, 64b) extends beyond the housing on each side thereof and the second gripping portion (68a, 68b) has a shape arched and extends substantially in an arc from the upper part of the housing to its lowest point spaced towards the rear of the housing and aligned horizontally   with the lower part of it.   6. Orbital polisher according to claim 5, in which the front handle (26) comprises parallel straight sections (62a, 62b) spaced from each other on each side of the housing, extending substantially parallel to the vertical reference plane and connected at their distal end (66a, 66b) from the housing at the corresponding ends of the first gripping portion (64a, 64b) on each side of the housing, with the first gripping portion (64a, 64b) and the straight sections (62a, 62b) cooperating to define the front grip opening (69) towards the front of the housing   extending beyond the housing, on each side thereof.   7. Orbital polisher according to claim 6, wherein the first gripping portion (64a, 64b) has an arcuate configuration with first and second sections of the first gripping portion extending from the respective distal ends of the straight section transverse to the vertical reference plane and far from the housing where they meet the vertical reference plane to form the arched configuration of the portion of gripping the front handle.   8. Electric polisher (10) comprising a central housing (22) comprising an upper part (30) and a lower part (32) and a front part and a rear part with a rotary pad (46) mounted adjacent to the lower part of the housing; a front handle (26) extending horizontally outward from the front part of the housing substantially parallel to the upper part and to the lower part of the housing, adjacent to and above the lower part of the housing; a rear handle (28) extending outward from the rear portion of the housing and extending vertically between the upper portion and the lower portion of the housing; a flange (40) formed in the upper part of the central housing and a male receptacle (42), comprising male plugs (43), mounted therein, with the male receptacle adapted to be electrically connected to a female socket head d 'an electric cord supplying the polisher, the flange (40) being hollowed out in the upper part of the housing with the male plugs (43) of the receptacle (42) extending from the housing in the flange; and a cord lock (44) comprising a cord receiving groove (82) formed in the upper part of the housing, adjacent to the flange (40), and a cantilever tongue (86) for retaining a portion a cord electric in the groove.   9. The polisher according to claim 8, in which the front handle (26) comprises a first gripping portion (64a, 64b) spaced towards the front of the housing and extending beyond the housing on each side thereof. and the rear handle (28) comprises a second arcuate gripping portion (68a, 68b) extending from the upper part of the housing to a point spaced towards the rear of the housing, substantially horizontally aligned with the part lower of it.   10. The polisher according to claim 9, wherein the first gripping portion (64a, 64b) comprises an arcuate section and the rear handle (28), the cord receiving groove (82), the flange (40) and the section arcuate are aligned along a vertical reference plane passing through the housing from the front part to the rear part thereof. i 1. A polisher according to claim 9, wherein the front handle (26) comprises parallel straight sections (62a, 62b) spaced from each other on each side of the housing and connected to the first gripping portion with the first portion of grip (64a, 64b) and the cross sections cooperating to define a first grip opening (69) towards the front of the housing.   12. The polisher according to claim 8, wherein the rear handle (28), the cord receiving groove (82) and the flange (40) are aligned along a vertical reference plane passing through the housing of the front part. to the back part of it.   1 3. The polisher according to claim 8, wherein the groove (82) and the tongue (86) cooperate to define an inlet slot (96) via which a   electrical cord can be inserted into the groove.   14. Polisher according to claim 8, wherein the housing (22), the front and rear handles (26 and 28), the flange (40) and the cord lock (44) are formed in one piece.   15. Electric polisher (1 O) comprising a central housing (22) comprising an upper part (30) and a lower part (32) with a rotary pad (46) mounted under the lower part of the housing and a motor in the housing for order the tampon according to an orbital route; connection means (40) recessed in the upper part of the housing for mounting a male receptacle (42) comprising male plugs (43) in order to electrically connect an electric supply cord to the motor; cord locking means (44) recessed in the upper part of the housing for maintaining an electrical connection connection between the electrical supply cord and the connection means; and a horizontal front handle (26) extending towards the outside of the housing from the lower part thereof and a vertical rear handle (28) extending between the upper part and the lower part of the housing with the front handles and back defining first and second (69, 39)   respective gripping openings to allow bi-actuation   planar with both hands of the polisher to guide a pad (46) along a work surface.   16. The polisher according to claim 15, wherein the connection means comprises a recessed flange (40) in the upper part of the housing and the male plugs (43) of the receptacle (42) extend from the   housing in the flange so as not to be exposed from the flange to the   above the upper part of the housing. 17. A polisher according to claim 15, wherein the cord locking means comprises a cord receiving groove (82) formed in the upper part of the housing and a cantilever tongue (86) projecting above of the strap to engage a portion of the cord in the   groove and engage by friction the portion within it.   18. The polisher according to claim 15, in which the horizontal front handle (26) comprises a first gripping portion (64a, 64b) spaced towards the front of the housing and extending beyond the housing on each side thereof. ci and two parallel straight sections (62a, 62b) spaced from each other on each side of the housing and connected to the first gripping portion with the first gripping portion and the straight sections   cooperating to define the first grip opening.   19. The polisher according to claim 18, wherein the horizontal front handle (26) is arranged symmetrically along a horizontal central axis   through the housing and aligned with the vertical rear handle (28).